Lighting

Florida Photo Caravan: South Beach – Final Shoot

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Photograph by Rick Sammon
We just finished the final shoot on my Florida Photo Caravan. We had some fantastic models and talked about controlling the light and making pictures.

For the opening image for this post, we bounced the light from our on-camera flashes (set on TTL) into a Westcott reflector – after setting our cameras to Manual and setting the exposure for the light coming through the window behind our model.

For the two pictures below, we bounced the sunlight, which was coming from above and behind the lifeguard stand on which the model was standing, onto her face and body – again using a Westcott reflector.

Photograph by Rick Sammon

Photograph Rick Sammon

Reflectors rock.


I took all of these pictures with my Canon 5D Mark II and Canon 25-105mm IS lens.

We are setting the dates for our 2012 Florida Photo Caravan  - and Delray Goes Digital project. Interested? Shoot me an email at ricksammon@mac.com.

Explore the light,
Rick

Cool Stuff And Ideas for Making Cool Pictures in 2011

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Happy New Year Everyone!

I know you all want to make great pictures in 2011. Here's some stuff and a few ideas that can help you in your quest!


New Full Body Female Fiberglass Mannequin LM1D. 69.2" 37.7" 26.3" 34.6"
Hey, don't be a dummy when it comes to lighting - and don't waste the subject's time. Buy a mannequin for about $130 and practice different lighting techniques until you master each one . . well in advance of your shooting session. What's more, the mannequin will not complain when you adjust the lights a million times :-)

Lighting idea: Place a light behind the subject and point it toward the subject to light the hair (left), or place a light behind the subject and point it toward the background to light the background (middle). The middle photo is an example of what a "separation" light can do.

Rogue FlashBenders ROGUERELG Large Positionable Reflector
This handy accessory increases the size of the light source . . . and as we all know: the larger the light, the softer the light; the closer the light, the softer the light. If you are serious about your flash photography, don't leave home w/out a Rogue FlashBender.

Lighting idea: Fold the FlashBender in a tube-like fashion to direct the light on a targeted area of the subject. That's what I did for the top left mannequin photograph, targeting the light on the mannequin's hair . . . OK, wig :-)


Here are two shots I took on the show floor at Photo Plus Expo in NYC using a Rogue FlashBender on my Canon Speedlite 580EX II Flash for Canon EOS Digital SLR Cameras.


Speaking of flash photography, my #1 flash tip is: Take the darn flash off the camera! Once you do that, a whole new world of creative flash opportunities away you.
For Canon shooters, here is an accessory for off-camera flash photography:Canon ST-E2 Speedlite Transmitter for Canon 580EX II, 430EX, 430EX II Speedlites

Two accessories for all brands of camears:
Pocket Wizard FlexTT5 Transceiver For Canon TTL Flashes and Digital SLR Cameras
and
PocketWizard MiniTT1 Radio Transmitter for Canon TTL Flashes and Digital SLR Cameras

Photographic Composition: A Visual Guide. Readers of my blog know that Dr. Richard Zakia is my photo hero. Read this book and you'll see why! Dick will show you a new way of seeing, for sure.

X-Rite ColorChecker Passport
Want accurate color? Check out ColorChecker Passport. This handy accessory, which is about the size of a passport, features color chart panels and a CD. You shoot the color chart in the lighting conditions in which you'll be working, pop the CD into your computer, open the ColorChecker Passport software and . . . voila! Getting images with accurate color is a snap.


Sun-Sniper Camera Strap
True story (just ask the folks who were on my Maine Media Workshop a few years back): One of my cameras fell in a quarry . . . because is slid off my shoulder. Simply put, that will never happen again, because I use the Sun-Sniper Camera Strap. If you shoot with two cameras as I always do, these straps will give you fast access to each camera.


Westcott 301 Photo Basics 40-Inch 5-in-1 Reflector
Seeing the light is of the utmost importance in photography. Knowing how to control the light is also key. If you are serious about taking people pictures, don't leave home without a reflector/diffuser kit. I certainly don't.

If you are not yet into HDR photography, check out Photomatix and HDR Efex Pro.

Photomatix. You can save 15% when you order Photomatix by using this code: ricksammon.

Nik Software’s HDR Efex Pro. Save 15% if you use this code: RSAMMON upon check-out on the Nik web site. 

Like the artistic look in a photograph: Try Topaz Adjust. For my "Old Havana '57 Chevy" photograph, I used the Spicify Effect. Click here to order Topaz Adjust. Hey, save a bundle when you order a Topaz bundle.

Explore the light – and have a great 2011!
Rick

The Making of An App - Behind the Scenes with Light It!

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Just a quick (and big) "thank you" to all those who attended yesterday's "The Making of An App" preso at B&H in NYC. The two-hour preso focused on how my Light It! app was conceived, shot, edited and finally ended up on the iTunes store and on the iPad and iPhone.

I talked about different lighting techniques, as well as some of my personal philosophies for photographing people.

Emmy-award winner David Leveen, who shot all the videos for the info-packed and interactive app, talked about shooting and editing the HD videos, as well as what's needed to create a cool app.

Our app developer, Craig Ellis of Great Oak Software, could not make the event. He was at Apple headquarters in Cupertino, CA. In his absence, David gave Craig's insightful preso.

So here is a question: Would you be interested in seeing an app on the making of an app? Hey, if the coffee-table book on coffee tables worked for Kramer, we figure this idea just may fly. Let us know by posting a comment here on my blog so we can track.

To learn more about the app, click here to see our intro movie.

Our next app - which will also be available as a DVD? Fashion, Beauty and Glamour - Light it, shoot it, process it. Interested?


Click here to see all my apps.

Explore the light,
Rick

P.S. Here is a quick lighting tip: Watch for reflections - on shiny surfaces and on glasses. They may add to or detract from a photograph. Photographs by Vered Koshlano.

Be My Guest Monday 12/13/10: Vered Koshlano

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It's "Be My Guest Monday," the day of the week that's turned over to a talented guest blogger for a quick tip.

Today's guest: Vered Koshlano

It's all yours, Vered.

I recently posted a photo challenge on my blog. I posted the above photograph and asked the reader: "What was the background material I used for the photograph?"

Now, before you read further, look at the photograph and take a few guesses.

My readers came up with the most wonderful and surprising ideas.

If you haven't guessed, it is a piece of inexpensive fabric - the kind with many small shiny discs sewn into it.

When you angle a piece of fabric like this toward the camera (meaning not directly parallel to camera's sensor plane). and have the light skim past it, rather than light it directly, you get a nice effect of beautifully-illuminated little discs. Then, all you have to do is put the background out of focus (use a telephoto lens and wide aperture) and you get that beautiful bokeh effect.

The photo was taken with my Canon 1Ds ll and a three light setup - one large Westscott soft box with a Dynalite head on camera left. That light illuminated the model's face from above eye-level (look in her eyes, you can see it).

I used a second light with a 20-degree honey comb grid on camera right, lighting the model's hair. I placed a third light with barn doors (to control spill) behind her head. That light is skimming across the fabric in the background.

I have discovered a treasure in the form of fabric stores. Look for what's on sale and imaging the fabric illuminated with colored gels. Get large pieces for a full backgrounds, or just remnants as props (art supply stores are another great resource).

My website has many examples of creative and simple "inexpensive" accessories that are readily available.

Enjoy!

Vered Koshlano

B&H Lighting Talk + The Making of an App

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I hope you can join me for my talk on lighting at B&H on December 13th.

The session is not only about lighting. Joining me will be David Leveen, the videographer who took the videos for my lighting app, Light It!, and Craig Ellis, the dude who created the app.


Click here for info on the event.

Click here for info on Light It!

We are giving away 10 free redeem codes for both Light It! and Light It Light! I hope you can grab one at the event!

Explore the light,
Rick